The Queensland Government has acted immediately to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors after a detailed assessment identified potentially combustible cladding at Mackay Base Hospital.
Samples of aluminium composite panels – mainly on the high facades of the hospital buildings – were sent to the University of Queensland’s fire safety testing laboratory in September and have been found to contain potentially combustible core material.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Julie Rampton said these panels would be removed and replaced with temporary sheeting within the next six weeks.
Work to permanently replace the full extent of panels required is expected to be completed over the next 12 months.
“We have taken immediate action to start the replacement process and have already had fire safety experts review our safety systems at Mackay Base Hospital,” Ms Rampton said.
Ms Rampton reassured staff, patients and the community that it was business as usual at the hospital, which would continue to operate safely and provide vital healthcare services.
“Let me be very clear – our number one priority is the safety of staff, patients and their visitors,” she said.
“We have the highest safety standards with internal emergency stairwells, emergency exits and fire escapes.
“In sensitive areas where sprinklers can’t be used, there are specialised suppression systems.
“Mackay Base Hospital is a 24/7 facility so there are always trained staff on duty to respond to any fire detected by our systems and alarms are also directly linked to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.”
Ms Rampton said the hospital’s emergency fire systems, evacuation plans and routes have been inspected by the fire service and found to meet national standards.
“Their inspections have endorsed our evacuation routes, evacuation plans and assembly points as meeting all the relevant Australian Standards for fire detection and prevention systems,” she said.
